Former Syracuse police officer has bail lowered in drug case

Syracuse, NY - A former Syracuse police officer accused of supplying drugs to minors had his bail lowered in Onondaga County Court this morning.

Judge William Walsh set bail at $2,500 to cover several cases pending against Fredrick J. Baunee, 48, of 311 Westfall St., Camillus.

Baunee was charged in September with endangering the welfare of a child based on allegations he provided cigarettes and marijuana to a minor. Felony drug charges were filed after Camillus police executed a search warrant at Baunee's home and recovered marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, a banned substance.

Those incidents resulted in Baunee also facing a probation violation charge accusing him of violating the probation he was sentenced to in Syracuse City Court last year involving allegations he provided alcohol to a 14-year-old boy in May 2007. Baunee retired from the police department while that case was pending.

Bail had been set by Camillus Town Justice Stephen Poli at $1,500 cash or $3,000 bond in the new endangering case and at $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond in the search warrant drug case. City Judge Kate Rosenthal originally ordered Baunee held without bail on the probation violation.

But Rosenthal last week set bail at $2,500 on the probation violation, prompting defense lawyer Paul Carey to seek a County Court review today of the overall bail situation for his client.

Over the objections of Assistant District Attorney Cindi Newtown, Walsh today ordered the $2,500 bail to cover all the charges. Newtown said she told the judge she expects Baunee to face additional charges as about a dozen minors have come forward to accuse him of providing them with cigarettes and marijuana.

But she also said authorities are continuing their investigation and believe there are even more juvenile victims out in the Camillus area who have had similar contacts with Baunee.

Carey said he expected Baunee would be able to make the $2,500 bail and be released from the Justice Center jail.